Hand Measurements

Hand size affects ball control and how comfortably you can palm the ball, and it's one of the more fixed physical traits recorded at a combine — not something training changes much. Grip strength is the opposite: it's trainable, and it's what holds the ball through contact and finishes strong around the rim. Measured in both hands because a left/right difference is worth knowing in itself.

• A flat measuring board or tape on a table
• A hand dynamometer

1. 1Place your hand flat on the measuring surface, fingers spread naturally.
2. 2Length: measured from the base of your palm to the tip of your middle finger.
3. 3Width: measured from the tip of your thumb to the tip of your little finger, fingers spread wide.
4. 4Grip: hold the dynamometer with your arm by your side and your elbow straight, then squeeze as hard as you can for a couple of seconds.
5. 5Repeat the squeeze with the other hand, then do a second attempt on each side.

One reading each for hand length and hand width. Two squeezes per hand for grip strength — the best of the two counts.

• Spread your fingers fully for the width measurement — a relaxed hand reads smaller than it should.
• For grip, squeeze in one hard effort rather than building up slowly, and don't swing the arm or lean into it.

• The measurements themselves are static, but grip strength is a maximal effort — tell staff about any wrist, hand or forearm injury before you squeeze.
• Stop if you feel pain in the wrist or forearm rather than pushing through it.